Realism

We want to know:

• When
• Where
• Who
• What
• Why
• And... a couple other things

When?

• Appx 1860-1900
• After Slavery
• Rapid growth of literacy and democracy
• Period of rapid progression toward rights for ex-slaves

Where?

• Midwest
• *South
• New England

Who?

• Mark Twain (Southern Fiction)
• William Dean Howells
• Joel Chandler Harris, Charles Chestnutt (Plantation Tradition stories)
• Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Jane Addams, Rebecca Harding Davis (feminist realism)

What?

• Depicted everyday life
• Response to romanticism
• Characters have control over lives (unlike naturalism), often called agency
• Variation in region, with same goal in mind, of observing reality
• *Not a progressive movement

What?(Cont'd)

• Often, but not always, a depiction of middle class in south
• Study of the individual and their decisions, not society
• Exposed to life across Regions and Ethnicities (Midwest, NE, south, and Black authors)

Why?

Why?

• Romanticism became unpopular
• Felt it gave far too unrealistic depiction of life
• Wanted to express truth of life and its hardships
• Growing population and regional differences, expression of life across America

Why? (cont'd)

• Industrialism, rise of transcontinental railroad connected regions
• Rapid change and progression
• Wanted all people to understand each other, using normal, everyday language

Discussion

• How would you summarize Realism in your own words?
• What is the point of Realism?
• How does Realism differ from Romanticism?
• If you were to write about your life in the era of Realism, what/how would you depict it, based on these principles?

Let's Try

• It's your turn to be a Realist!
• Write a page long story about a day in the life of a high school student.
• You can use whatever dialect that is natural to you
• Should conform to Realist practices
• Include daily events, thoughts, choices
• Remember to emphasize the character and their decisions
• Have fun with it! Think about your character, and write about realistic life

Untitled Slide

• Have fun with it! Think about your character, and write about realistic life.
• Take about 15 minutes
• We'll briefly share our stories to wrap up classtime, and nominate peers the best realistic story.
• Tonight's Homework: Read the nominated stories on Canvas, and come ready to vote for your favorite piece!

Keep it... "REAL"

Sources

• http://www.longwood.edu/staff/lynchrl/English%20336/american_realism.htm
• https://public.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/realism.htm